­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – After sleeping outside in the early morning hours, Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the field training exercises during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., August 8, 2023. The FTX lanes simulate real-life tactical scenarios that allow Cadets to improve their skills and gain more practical field experience. The three lanes they enact are squad ambush, squad attack and movement to contact. Cadet Racquel Wilson from Florida Atlantic University said that the purpose of these exercises is for Cadets to take what they learned in the classroom and physically put it to the test [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., — Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, entered the second stage of their Field Training Exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., July 26, 2023.  Spending a total of 12 days in the field, Cadets complete groups of exercises, which are divided into 3 parts: Wolverine, Panther, and Grizzly. The Cadets are challenged mentally and physically before their skills are graded on the last day.  “We’re on our second mission, on the first day of Panther, and we’re completing an area defense,” said Cadet Phillip Jones, Alabama A&M. “Leadership is still processing the last few parts of our plan to [...]

FORT KNOX Ky. — During Cadet Summer Training, the U.S. Army Cadet Command partners with universities to train, educate, develop, and inspire Cadets to commission as officers. These Cadets come from around the world, to the same organizations to reach the same goal – learning how to help others. Similarly, while Cadet Zyra Brigette Dew, Carson-Newman University, and Cadet Jeremy Acheampong, Capital University, may both belong to the 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, they entered CST having experienced different journeys, holding differing cultural influences. “I was originally born in the Philippines, but then we moved,” Dew said. “My family and I moved [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – A dark cloud storms its way across the training area where Cadets from 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp were planning to work on their field training exercises on July 1, 2023.  Due to the frequent lightning strikes, overheard thunder, and heavy rain, the training was brought to a halt. While the Cadets were waiting underneath their soon-to-be soaking wet ponchos, they had some down time to speak on FTX and their future aspirations.  “The field training event prepares us for future leadership events and tests how we perform under distress in adverse conditions,” said Cadet Alexander Grieves, Central [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, spent the day planning and executing field training exercises during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. Cadets will spend a total of 12 days in the field where they will sleep in the woods, test their leadership abilities and run missions like ambushes, raids, attacks, defense, reconnaissance and movement to contact. Cadet Madeline Bryan, Loyola University Chicago, and her platoon executed an attack on an objective. “Everybody communicated with me effectively,” Bryan said. “I got on the objective, I knew I had to shoot, I posted the [...]

By: Julia Galli and Cristina Betz “Everything’s faster. Everything’s quicker,” Cadet Nathaniel Stone from North Carolina State University, said. “The biggest difference really, is planning for unpredictability, which is a really hard thing to do.” After completing Field Training Exercise (FTX) I: Panther, 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets moved on to FTX II: Grizzly, where their newly developed skills were put to the test. Having just executed a successful attack, Stone discussed the most significant difference between Panther and Grizzly.  “When doing Panther…they really just kind of see if you have the fundamentals down,” Stone said. “Whereas Grizzly, it’s more of [...]

One Cadet started the mission, another Cadet had to finish it. 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets began their movement to contact mission with the vision of 3-4 opposing forces near their objective. Minutes after contact with the opposing forces (OPFOR), the platoon scrambled – only to find themselves being surrounded from behind by more opfor.  Opfor were multiplying and appearing in all directions, but platoon leader Erika Zachary, St. Mary’s University – San Antonio, rallied everyone to gather in one area… but the forces were too strong as Zachary was taken down before it happened. Michael Numa, Virginia Military Institute, realized [...]

As Cadets of 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, advanced their way through Cadet Summer Training (CST), they quickly realized the importance of teamwork, focus, and utilizing tools around you during the Field Training Exercises (FTX) I: Panther. “At least in Wolverine phase, we had a lot of issues with us not using individual movement techniques, not using face paint or using foliage,” Cadet David Jeffe, from the University of Chicago, noted as the reasoning behind his platoon being spotted by the enemy. “So, it’s important to be camouflaged so that the enemy doesn’t detect you. We have all of our foliage in. [...]

With the final days of Cadet Summer Training (CST) approaching, the Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, applied the skills they developed during their initial Field Training Exercises (FTX) to brand new tactical scenarios at FTX II: Grizzly.  “It’s similar in a lot of ways to the first FTX, but they’ve just kind of turned up the heat a little bit,” Cadet Carson Collard, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said. “The movements are longer, the missions are on a tighter timeframe, there’s less help from Cadre, and so it overall puts more strain on the leaders and is, in my opinion, [...]

There was excitement in the air as Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, fired off their final rounds and completed one last tactical mission during their concluding iteration of Field Training Exercises (FTX).   The morale was incredibly high as these Cadets looked back on their time in the field and recognized the very important, yet very different perspectives they had on the experience.   “If we’re not training, we’re out there in the actual, real fight,” Cadet John Halo, from Fayetteville State University, said. “It’s good to have that increased stress, it adds value to the training, so it makes the leaders [...]

Three Cadets, Vittorio Divalentin (left) from Virginia Tech, Annika Smylie (center) from Idaho State University, and Kyla McKim (right) from Drexel University, assigned to 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp of Cadet Summer Training discuss different aspects of Field Training Exercise (FTX) and offer some advice to future Cadets during their FTX at Fort Knox, Ky.

As Cadet Summer Training (CST) graduation approaches for the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, they have traded in the comfort of their barracks for one final iteration of Field Training Exercises (FTX).   With that, Cadet Melanie Williams, from Grand Valley State University, and Cadet Ty Wesenyak, from Virginia Military Institute, have made a much bigger sacrifice, as they celebrate their 21st and 22nd birthdays out in the field.   “It’s worth it. This is something I really want to do with my career and with my life, so missing my 21st birthday, while it may seem in the moment [...]

At Cadet Summer Training, mission success isn’t realized without a competent team to make it happen. This is especially evident for FTX Panther, a Cadet lead mission that could easily fall to disaster without effective leadership and communication. “My platoon’s mission was to deliver an ambush along with a hasty defense afterwards,” said Cadet John Barrales from California State University, Northridge. “We were given very little time to do the ambush. We didn’t even have time to brief an OPORD (operations order), so our communication had to be on point.” To complicate matters, the platoon had to face the dense Kentucky [...]

After completing the first 72 hours of their Field Training Exercise (FTX) and receiving a well-deserved refit day, Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, begin the next phase of their training by moving to a new area. Unlike the initial phase, Cadets must now plan and execute their missions with little to no assistance from the Cadre staff, and face new challenging simulations designed to create high levels of pressure and anxiety within the platoons to add to the realism of the training. “You got to learn how to manage, to be under stress and make good decisions or at least [...]

Fort Knox, Ky., —  Throughout Cadet Summer Training, Cadets learn the meaning of being a Soldier and a leader by exposing themselves every day to new experiences that help them grow. They conquer fears on the Rappel Tower, they develop confidence during Land Navigation and they learn to trust their equipment during the Confidence Chamber.   By the time Cadets arrive at the Field Training Exercise (FTX) their Regiments are a well-oiled machine that is ready to showcase the things they have learned throughout camp, but before they can do that, they must learn one final lesson: How to work with each [...]

Fort Knox, Ky., — Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, received a motivational boost from Gen. Paul E. Funk II during his visit to their Field Training Exercise (FTX) at AO Wolverine on July 19. “I was busy writing my OPORD (Operations Order) and I started looking up and I counted one, two, three, four stars on the chest and I was like ‘oh my God, we have a general out here,’” said Cadet Danny Yim, UC Berkeley.  Funk, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, shared with Cadets a moment of comradery and expressed his gratitude [...]

“I think I really do well under pressure, like moving, making sure I’m not frozen in place when I hear gunshots," Roberts said. "I’m trying my best to get to the next cover. I think that’s my biggest strength so far.”

It started around 3:30 am on July 12, 2021. The Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp took position in the middle of the deep woods and got to work planning. Treating their Field Training Exercise as if it was a real mission, stealth was a priority. Whispers, red lights, and crawling through mud were the norm at Fort Knox, KY’s Panther Phase. Most apparent however, was the waiting. After the planning started, most of 1st Platoon, C Company stayed mostly still for hours. They would secure a well-fortified perimeter, then would lay vigilant on the ground, despite rain and bugs all [...]

3rd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets are on the last leg of Cadet Summer Training (CST), and on their way to becoming Commissioned Officers in the Army. As a final challenge, Cadets are put to the test during their Field Training Exercise (FTX), a 12-day-long event where Cadets live in the woods, encountering ticks, pouring rain, and opposing forces.   FTX not only assesses a Cadet’s physical capabilities, but it also teaches them how to adapt and depend on their leadership skills. In fact, leadership is at the forefront of every decision made in the field. FTX is divided into three phases: wolverine, [...]

“Initially there is always that little bit of nervousness anytime you get thrown into a leadership role,” said Cadet Jared Dieckman, a student at the University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse.

On a cloudy morning at 2:30 am, 1st Regiment Cadets started the 12-mile foot march, which is the last training event of Advanced Camp 2021. Spirits were high and morale was lifted, as they marched in cadence beside their newly found companions. Cadets have only known each other for about 30 days, however, they have formed bonds that will last a lifetime.  “My platoon calls [the 12-mile foot march] a four-hour bonding session,” said Cadet Drew Cartwright. “I have grown so close with this group of people… we’re like a little family now.” Cartwright, from Carson-Newman University, is part of Alpha [...]

On June 19th, 2nd Regiment Cadets participated in their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Advanced Camp 2021. The FTX’s are separated into different stages: Wolverine, Panther and Grizzly. Cadets have to attend the three stages before leaving Fort Knox.  Cadets are using the “crawl, walk, run” method of training, which guarantees that every stage is more difficult and complex than the one before.  The 2nd Regiment is in the Wolverine stage. During the FTX, Cadets perform various Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes, which are simulated combat scenarios. They have the chance to use the information and techniques they have learned [...]

“Trust is very important especially as a leader,” said Cadet Henry Mulli, a student at Loyola University Maryland. “You have to trust your subordinates especially when disseminating information so everybody knows what’s going on.”